Putsch

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pÊŠtʃ/
• Rhymes: -ÊŠtʃ

Origin

From German Putsch, from Alemannic German Putsch ("knock, thrust"), of imitative origin.

Full definition of putsch

Noun

1. A coup; an illegal effort to forcibly overthrow the current government.
• Afterward, the ringleaders of the failed putsch were publicly executed.
• 2010, Thompson, M. 2010. Modernisation theory’s last redoubt: democratisation in east and south east Asia. In Yin-wah Chu and Siu-lun Wong (ed), 'East Asia's new democracies: deepening, reversal, non-liberal alternatives'. London, Routledge.p98."They have broken the democratic rules of the game by supporting popular mobilisation that has resulted in what can be dubbed a "people power putsch"."

Synonyms

• coup
• coup d'état, coup d'etat